Getting There
The international airport – France’s second busiest after Paris – is just four miles to the west of downtown, so getting to Nice is a breeze. Aéroport Nice-Côte d'Azur (NCE; www.nice.aeroport.fr) is well-serviced by major international carriers like Air France (via Paris; www.airfrance.us), British Airways (via London; www.britishairways.com), Lufthansa (via Frankfurt; www.lufthansa-usa.com), and others, who offer connecting service to Nice via their respective European hubs. Non-stop flights to Nice from the US are available through Delta (www.delta.com) only, in partnership with Air France from New York City. Flight time with connecting service to Nice is about 11.5 hours from Atlanta, 11.5 hours from Chicago, 14 hours from Los Angeles, and 9 hours (non-stop) from New York.
For travelers on multi-city tours of Europe, efficient train service connects Nice’s main station, Gare SNCF Nice-Ville, to cities across the continent, including Paris. The quickest route to Paris is operated on special high-speed train (TGV) service (5.5 hours duration). There are also locally operated TER (Regional Express Trains) trains with stops along the Mediterranean coast at Cannes, Monaco, and more. Check with Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) for schedule and fare information.
Nice is a popular stop on Mediterranean cruise itineraries and is the top cruising port in France. Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com), Celebrity (www.celebrity.com), and Norwegian (www.ncl.com) are just a few of the cruise lines that call on Nice, as well as in neighboring Villefranche.
Package Providers
Booking air and hotel together (and other trip essentials such as airport transfers, car rentals, and even tours and activities) can save a bundle of cash – online travel discounters such as Expedia (www.expedia.com), Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), and Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) are a good place to start your search. You may also wish to consult with any of our recommended European-specialized providers, including France Vacations (www.francevacations.net); Go-Today (www.go-today.com); Virgin Vacations (www.virgin-vacations.com); and EuropeASAP (www.europeasap.com).
Getting into Nice
You can get a taxi right at the airport; it's the fastest and easiest way to get to your hotel – rates range from 20€ to 28€ (night trips cost more) for the under-20-minute drive to destinations in downtown Nice. Direct, shared shuttle service to your hotel can also be arranged beforehand, usually with a requirement of two or more in your party – try Tour Azur (04 93 44 88 77; from 14€; www.tourazur.com). Several hotels also provide private shuttles – be sure to inquire when booking your room. A more economical option is to catch one of the special airport buses into town – you can access several hotels along the Promenade des Anglais via bus #98 (terminus bus station, Gare Routière; 6am-9pm, every 20 min, special night buses available; 4€) or bus #99 (terminus train station; 8am-9pm, every 30 min; 4€,). The main train station can also be reached via municipal bus #23 (6am-9pm, approx. every 20 min; 1.30€), although the higher-priced lines 98 and 99 also allot you unlimited travel for the day on Nice buses.
If you prefer to drive, car rental agencies like Avis (www.avis.com), Budget (www.budget.com), and Hertz (www.hertz.com), among others, have rental offices in the airport. Driving is a good way to explore the rest of the Côte d'Azur, as well as quarters like Cimiez, which is outside of downtown Nice. However, if you intend to spend most of your time near the beaches and in Vieux Nice, a car will be an unnecessary expense, as these areas are best explored by foot and parking is usually restricted to somewhat pricey garages. If you opt to rent a car once you’ve left the airport, car rental agencies do operate throughout the city, particularly from the main train station.
Getting Around
If you’re staying in the fairly compact downtown area of Nice, you can count on being within a 10-minute walk to the shore. Several public buses run tourist-friendly routes, including a couple that run along the length of the Promenade des Anglais – check out www.lignedazur.com for schedule and route information. Single rides cost 1.30€ – unlimited day passes from 4€ are also available, as are special rates on weekly (15€) and multi-ticket passes. Taxis can also be arranged through your hotel concierge or independently – try Central Taxi Riviera (04 93 13 78 78). You’ll also surely observe construction efforts underway on a new central tramway (www.tramway-nice.org), which is due for completion in fall 2007.
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